Before updating a Windows PC that runs a 24/7 YouTube stream, export the active OBS Profile and Scene Collection separately, copy both exports off the PC, and preserve the files and plugin data they rely on. A Profile backs up stream, video, and output settings; a Scene Collection backs up scenes and sources. Neither export replaces the other.
What to back up—and what each export contains
| OBS backup | What it contains | What it does not replace |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Stream settings, including the connected account; video settings such as base (canvas) resolution; and output settings. OBS lets you export the current Profile to JSON for backup or use in another OBS installation. OBS: Profiles (2022-01-14) | Scenes and their sources. |
| Scene Collection | Scenes and sources, including Global Audio Sources from Settings → Audio. OBS: Scene Collections (2022-01-14) | Output settings. |
Scene exports describe sources, but they do not necessarily include the files those sources reference. Keep overlays, images, videos, audio, local browser-source assets, scripts, and any plugin-specific configuration that your setup needs. OBS Portable Mode does not automatically package linked scene media. OBS: Running in Portable Mode (2024-07-23)
Export both backups before the update
- Record the active Profile and Scene Collection. In OBS, note the names shown in the Profile and Scene Collection menus. If you use different configurations for different streams or operating modes, export each one you need and label the files clearly.
- Export the Profile. Open Profile → Import/Export and choose the option to export the Profile settings. Save the JSON somewhere you can identify, such as a maintenance-backup folder.
- Export the Scene Collection. Open Scene Collection and choose the export option for the active collection. Save it alongside the Profile export. This is a separate operation: the Profile does not include scenes, and the Scene Collection does not include output settings.
- Copy all required files off the PC. Copy both exports and any linked media, graphics, scripts, or plugin data you need to an external destination. An external SSD or USB drive is one practical option; keep a second copy for a business-critical stream. Confirm the files exist on the destination before starting maintenance.
- Schedule a clean stop. Arrange a maintenance window and stop the YouTube broadcast cleanly before updating Windows or OBS. The OBS documentation describes exports, not a zero-interruption update process.
- Check OBS after updating, before resuming. Open OBS, select the intended Profile and Scene Collection, and inspect critical sources, audio meters, output settings, and the stream destination or connected account. If available, do a private or unlisted test or another safe preflight before putting the public stream back on air.
- Keep the backups until the updated setup has been checked in normal use. Do not delete the exports immediately after OBS opens; verify the configuration through a normal stream cycle first.
What can remain outside an OBS export
- Referenced media: scene collections can point to files without carrying those files with them. Preserve local images, videos, audio, and browser-source assets, and check paths if files have moved.
- Scripts and plugin data: the official Profile and Scene Collection descriptions do not say they back up every plugin’s private configuration. Preserve relevant data separately and confirm that required plugins are available after the update.
- Portable Mode is not a media backup: OBS documents Portable Mode for Windows as a way to keep configuration in the application directory, useful for relocation or separate instances. It requires the ZIP version, and linked scene media may still need path adjustments. Do not assume it packages assets automatically. OBS: Running in Portable Mode (2024-07-23)
Troubleshoot a missing or incomplete setup
The scenes are missing, but OBS settings are present
Check the Scene Collection menu and import or select the collection you exported. A Profile export does not contain scenes.
Scenes load, but stream or output settings are wrong
Check the Profile menu and import or select the correct Profile JSON. A Scene Collection does not contain output settings.
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A source appears broken or media is missing
Check whether the referenced file was copied and whether its path still points to the right location. The collection export does not guarantee that external media was packaged.
OBS starts with plugin-related problems
OBS documents the --safe-mode launch option for disabling third-party plugins, scripts, and websockets while troubleshooting. Safe Mode changes the runtime environment; it is a diagnostic step, not a normal streaming configuration. OBS also documents --disable-updater for Windows and macOS if an operator needs to disable the built-in updater. OBS: Launch Parameters (2021-05-30)
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You need a manual fallback for Windows configuration files
An OBS forum moderator’s reply dated 2021-01-05 gives %APPDATA%obs-studio as the settings location and also mentions exporting the Profile and Scene Collection. Treat that folder as a secondary manual fallback; for the two documented configuration types, prefer the in-app exports. OBS Forums: Save Settings
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a pre-recorded YouTube stream running without depending on the PC at home, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option, not an OBS backup. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. It streams the uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
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